Bible Heaven/Bible Heaven.iso/online/mhcc09/v10250

Text File | 1994-03-01 | 7KB | 121 lines

10250
 #20,21 The pure oil signified the gifts and graces of the
 Spirit, which all believers receive from Christ, the good Olive,
 and without which our light cannot shine before men. The priests
 were to light the lamps, and tend them. It is the work of
 ministers, by preaching and expounding the Scriptures, which are
 as a lamp, to enlighten the church, God's tabernacle upon earth.
 Blessed be God, this light is not now confined to the Jewish
 tabernacle, but is a light to lighten the gentiles, and for
 salvation unto the ends of the earth.
10252
 * Aaron and his sons set apart for the priest's office, Their
 garments. (1-5) The ephod. (6-14) The breastplate, The Urim and
 Thummim. (15-30) The robe of the ephod, The plate of the mitre.
 (31-39) The garments for Aaron's sons. (40-43)

 #1-5 Hitherto the heads of families were the priests, and
 offered sacrifices; but now this office was confined to the
 family of Aaron only; and so continued till the gospel
 dispensation. The holy garments not only distinguished the
 priests from the people, but were emblems of that holy conduct
 which should ever be the glory and beauty, the mark of the
 ministers of religion, without which their persons and
 ministrations will be had in contempt. They also typified the
 glory of the Divine majesty, and the beauty of complete
 holiness, which rendered Jesus Christ the great High Priest. But
 our adorning under the gospel, is not to be of gold and costly
 array, but the garments of salvation, the robe of righteousness.

10257
 #6-14 This richly-wrought ephod was the outmost garment of the
 high priest; plain linen ephods were worn by the inferior
 priests. It was a short coat without sleeves, fastened close to
 the body with a girdle. The shoulder-pieces were buttoned
 together with precious stones set in gold, one on each shoulder,
 on which were engraven the names of the children of Israel. Thus
 Christ, our High Priest, presents his people before the Lord for
 a memorial. As Christ's coat had no seam, but was woven from the
 top throughout, so it was with the ephod. The golden bells on
 this ephod, by their preciousness and pleasant sound, well
 represent the good profession that the saints make, and the
 pomegranates the fruit they bring forth.

10266
 #15-30 The chief ornament of the high priest, was the
 breastplate, a rich piece of cloth, curiously worked. The name
 of each tribe was graven in a precious stone, fixed in the
 breastplate, to signify how precious, in God's sight, believers
 are, and how honourable. How small and poor soever the tribe
 was, it was as a precious stone in the breastplate of the high
 priest; thus are all the saints dear to Christ, however men
 esteem them. The high priest had the names of the tribes, both
 on his shoulders and on his breast, which reminds us of the
 power and the love with which our Lord Jesus pleads for those
 that are his. He not only bears them up in his arms with
 almighty strength, but he carries them in his bosom with tender
 affection. What comfort is this to us in all our addresses to
 God! The Urim and Thummim, by which the will of God was made
 known in doubtful cases, were put in this breastplate. Urim and
 Thummim signify light and integrity. There are many conjectures
 what these were; the most probable opinion seems to be, that
 they were the twelve precious stones in the high priest's
 breastplate. Now, Christ is our Oracle. By him God, in these
 last days, makes known himself and his mind to us, #Heb 1:1,2;
 Joh 1:18|. He is the true Light, the faithful Witness, the Truth
 itself, and from him we receive the Spirit of Truth, who leads
 into all truth.

10282
 #31-39 The robe of the ephod was under the ephod, and reached
 down to the knees, without sleeves. Aaron must minister in the
 garments appointed. We must serve the Lord with holy fear, as
 those who know they deserve to die. A golden plate was fixed on
 Aaron's forehead, engraven with "Holiness to the Lord." Aaron
 was hereby reminded that God is holy, and that his priests must
 be holy, devoted to the Lord. This must appear in their
 forehead, in open profession of their relation to God. It must
 be engraven like the engravings of a signet; deep and durable;
 not painted so as to be washed off, but firm and lasting; such
 must our holiness to the Lord be. Christ is our High Priest;
 through him sins are forgiven to us, and not laid to our charge.
 Our persons, our doings, are pleasing to God upon the account of
 Christ, and not otherwise.

10291
 #40-43 The priest's garments typify the righteousness of Christ.
 If we appear not before God in that, we shall bear our iniquity,
 and die. Blessed is he, therefore, that watcheth, and keepeth
 his garments, #Re 16:15|. And blessed be God that we have a High
 Priest, appointed of God, and set apart for his work; furnished
 for his high office by the glory of his Divine majesty, and the
 beauty of perfect holiness. Happy are we, if by the law
 spiritually understood, we see that such a High Priest became
 us; that we cannot draw near to a holy God, or be accepted, but
 by him. There is no light, no wisdom, no perfection, but from
 him; no glory, no beauty, but in being like unto him. Let us
 take encouragement from the power, love, and compassion of our
 High Priest, to draw near with boldness to the throne of grace,
 that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of
 need.
10295
 * The sacrifice and ceremony for the consecration of the
 priests. (1-37) The continual burnt-offerings, God's promise to
 dwell among Israel. (38-46)

 #1-37 Aaron and his sons were to be set apart for the priest's
 office, with ceremony and solemnity. Our Lord Jesus is the great
 High Priest of our profession, called of God to be so; anointed
 with the Spirit, whence he is called Messiah, the Christ;
 clothed with glory and beauty; sanctified by his own blood; made
 perfect, or consecrated through sufferings, #Heb 2:10|. All
 believers are spiritual priests, to offer spiritual sacrifices,
 #1Pe 2:5|, washed in the blood of Christ, and so made to our God
 priests, #Re 1:5,6|. They also are clothed with the beauty of
 holiness, and have received the anointing, #1Jo 2:27|. The
 Spirit of God is called the finger of God, (#Lu 11:20|, compared
 with #Mt 12:28|,) and by him the merit of Christ is applied to
 our souls. This consecration signifies the admission of a sinner
 into the spiritual priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices,
 acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.